Lorentz National Park
Lorentz National Park represents the most complete ecosystem for
biodiversity in either Southeast Asia or the Pacific. It is also one
of only three tropical areas in the world that has a glacier.
Stretching from snow-covered peaks (5,030 m asl) down to coastal
waters and mangrove forest and bordering upon the Arafura Sea, this
astonishing ecological spectrum ranges from alpine to lowland and
wetland vegetation areas.
As well as very high biological diversity, the Park also has other
unique features such as the glaciers on Puncak Jaya and a river that
disappears under the ground for several kilometres in the Baliem
valley.
There are 34 vegetation types that make up the forest area of the
Park, including swamp forest, riparian forest, sago forest, peat
forest, coastal forest, coral reef, slope/flat land rain forest,
hillside rain forest, montane forest, grassy plains, and
moss-covered areas.
Among the species of plant that grow in this Park are nipah (Nypa
fruticans), bakau (Rhizophora apiculata), Pandanus julianettii,
Colocasia esculenta, Podocarpus pilgeri, and Nauclea coadunata.
There are about 630 species of bird (some 70% of the total number of
bird species in Papua), 123 species of mammal, and various other
animal species. Some of the more interesting species of bird are two
species of cassowary, 31 dove and pigeon species, 31 species of
cockatoo, 13 species of kingfisher, 29 species of sunbird and 20
endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world, including
the snow quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx) and the long-tailed bird of
paradise (Paradigalla caruneulata). The mammal species include the
long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii bruijnii), short-beaked
echidna(Tachyglossus aculeatus), and four species of cuscus as well
as wallabies, forest cats and tree kangaroos.
Lorentz National Park has also been declared by UNESCO as a World
Natural Heritage Site, and by ASEAN countries as an ASEAN Natural
Heritage Site.
The Park's high biological diversity is matched by its marvellous
cultural diversity. It is estimated that the some of these cultures
have existed in this area for more than 30,000 years. This is the
home of tribes such as the Nduga, Dani Barat, Amungme, Sempan, and
Asmat. It is quite possible that there are still other communities
living in very isolated areas who have never had contact with the
modern world at all.
The Asmat are well-known for their skill at chiselling wood into
fine statues. According to their belief, the tribe is identical to
the forest or trees. The trunk of a tree symbolizes the body of
human being; the branches are the arms, and the fruit symbolizes the
human head. Their ancestors-spirits, they believe, dwell in the
trees. As such, the Asmat accord great respect to trees. Rivers,
mountains and other natural features are similarly honoured.
Lorentz was only designated as a National Park in 1997. It currently
has very limited facilities for visitors, and not all potential
attractions have yet been identified or developed.
Best time of year to visit: August to December.
How to reach the Park: from Timika, head for the northern part of
the Park by the local air service; and to the southern part by sea
to the Sawa Erma Port, then follow the trails to various locations.
Declared : Minister of Forestry SK No. 154/Kpts-II/97,
a total area of 2,450,000 hectares
Location : Regencies; Paniai, Fak-fak, Merauke
(Province of Papua/Irian Jaya)
Temperature 29° - 32° C (low-land)
Rainfall 3,700 - 10,000 mm/year
Altitude 0 - 5,000 m asl.
Geographical location 136°56' - 139°09' E; 3°41' - 5°30' S
Park Office: Jl. Raya Abepura, Kotaraja, PO Box 1217
Jayapura 99351, Papua/Irian Jaya
Tel. : +62-967-581596
Related resources
National park in Maluku and Papua:
- National Parks in Indonesia
- Manusela National Park - Masohi, Maluku
- Teluk Cendrawasih National Park - Manokwari, West Papua
-
Wasur National Park - Merauke, West Papua
